FZY Study Section
One third of the Year Course programme is spent in the Jerusalem study section. There are a number of different study sections that FZY Year Course offers and each has a different emphasis and is designed and built with FZY chanichim in mind. For more on these programmes see the “Speciality Tracks” section.
Accommodation:
For all courses, except for the Machon, during the Jerusalem Studies period, chanichim live and study at the new, purpose built Judaean Youth Centre in Jerusalem, FZY’s and Young Judaea’s home base in Israel.
Course Descriptions:
During the Jerusalem study section a wide variety and scope of courses are offered and these will differ depending on the course or specialist track that chanichim choose. However, a number of sample courses and their descriptions are outlined below and give a good indication of the opportunities available.
Core Courses:
Zionism in the Arts: From Ben Yehuda to Hadag Nachash – The Development of Artistic Culture in the State of Israel - One of major contributions of the Zionist movement to the Jewish and general communities over the past century and a half is the development of “Hebrew Culture” - artistic expressions of a people returning to their land and language, while simultaneously forging a new society. This course will explore the development of Hebrew, Israeli music/poetry, visual arts, film/television, dance and theatre from the 1940’s to the present through lectures, visits, screenings and performances, as well as in-depth exploration of text.
Or:
History of Zionism and Israel - This course is designed to provide understanding of the ideological and historical foundations of Israeli society. The course is an intensive introduction to Zionism and to Israel. The course is taught using a variety of media, centring around the siyur (field trip) each week. The siyurim will take chanichim to the places and introduce them to the people connected with the events being dealt with in class.
Hadracha - A key element of FZY Year Course is Hadracha, leadership skills. In this class, chanichim will be given the theoretical and practical skills necessary to return to the UK as leaders (madrichim) of the movement, capable of running camps, seminars and weekly meetings. The skills given here are not only useful in a movement setting but also provide essential skills for University and careers.
Ulpan - The key to appreciating Israeli society is language and the Ulpan class provides students of all levels and abilities the chance to learn to speak, read and write Modern Hebrew.
ELECTIVE COURSES:
The following are sample courses that chanichim will be able to choose from:
Jerusalem in the Jewish Historical Perspective - This course explores selected themes in the history of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel, with the city of Jerusalem serving as the living laboratory through which to study those themes. The class will be complemented by a half-day siyyur. The siyyuruim will focus on archaeological sites, the holy places of the different religions and the modern expansion of the city outside the walls.
Introduction to the Jewish Bookshelf - Learn to navigate the wealth of Jewish text found on the bookshelf of the Jewish library. Through theme based learning, ancient and modern Jewish texts will be placed into context, as well as familiarising the chanich/a with the Jewish bookshelf. An overview of the major texts of Judaism will ensure that chanichim feel at home with Jewish texts.
Idkun (Israel Update) - Spending a year in Israel allows the chanichim to see and hear the news from Israeli sources. This class gives the chanichim the opportunity to process the news as well as receiving analysis and perspective.
The Jewish Woman: Traditions and Changes - How can women celebrate and mark the Jewishness and femaleness through old traditions such as the mikveh and new rituals such as Bat Mitzvah ceremonies and Women’s Rosh Chodesh? What does Judaism say about pre-marital sex, sexuality in marriage, birth control and abortion? What is the experience of Haredi women and women in the army? This course delves into the issue of women in Judaism from many vantage points.
Studies in the Arab-Israeli Conflict - In this course students will explore the nature and development of the conflict between the Yishuv – and later Israel - and its Arab neighbours since the late 19th century. The class will study the evolution of Arab-Israeli relations from a communal conflict to an international one. Utilising conflict theory, students will analyse political and diplomatic interests which influenced decisions by opposing sides to either pursue strategies of war and peace. The class will come to understand how strategic considerations and geopolitical circumstances, as well as political and religious ideology have shaped not only the various military conflicts but also the diplomatic activity carried on between.
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